Burglar-alarm



No. 622,037. Patented mar. 28, I899.

- .1. cummmas.

BURGLAR ALARM.

(Application filed Nov. 11, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shut I.

WITNESSES: mvsmom K. /W E AQM ATTORNEYS v Patented Mar. 28, I899. J. L.CUMMINGS.

BURG-LAR ALARM.

(Application filed Nov. 11, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

|NVENTOR TORNEYS THE Noams' PEIERS co. Pnm'qu'mo wAsumamn,

Nirnn TATES PATENT rricn,

JOHN L. CUMMINGS, OF MANSFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA.

BU RG LAR-ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 622,037, dated March28, 1899.

Application filed November 11, 1898. Serial No. 696,124. (No model.)

T all whom, it nuty concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN L. CUMMINGS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mansfield, in the county of Tioga and State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burglar-Alarms; andI do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of burglar-alarms especiallyadapted to be applied to windows and having wires arranged across thewindow, which are adapted to be disturbed by any one attempting toenter, and thus sound an alarm.

The objects of the invention are to effect an alarm whether an attemptbe made to raise the window or to enter through an opening made bycutting out a pane of glass, to effect an alarm whether the wires arepressed against or pulled or severed, to provide'a device which can beused in connection with any special door-protector or general-alarmsystem, to provide a device in which the wires may be readilydisconnected during the day, so as to raise and lower the window in theusual manner, to provide an apparatus sinrple in construction and notliable to get out of order, but at the same time efficient and sure inits action, and to secure other advantages and results, some of whichmay be referred to hereinafter in connection with the description of theworking parts.

The invention consists in the improved bur-- the ends of the wires maybe used.

bell and battery. Fig. 2 is a detail cross-sectional view showing thearrangement of one of the wires upon the window. Fig. 3 is a section ofthe alarm-box on line 00, Fig. 4, showing the arrangement of theinterior parts; and Fig. 4 is an end view of the same on line 00, Fig.3.

In said drawings, a indicates a windowframe, and b b the upper and lowersashes, adapted to slide up and down in the usual manner. Wires 0 extendhorizontally across the window, being suitably fastened at one end, asat c, to the sash and running through guides 61 d, projecting from thesash, across the panes to the opposite side, and from thence throughother guides d to an alarm-box f. Said guides may be small screw-eyes,hooks, pulleys, or anything similarly adapted to hold the wire in placeand give it the proper di rection.

The'wires c are preferably very fine, so as not to be obtrusive andpresent an ungainly appearance.

At a convenient point near where the wires leave the window-sash theyare provided with coupling means 6, permitting the portion upon the sashto be disconnected from the part on the window-frame, so that the sashmay be raised and lowered, as usual, until it is desired to secure thewindow against tampering. When uncoupled, the ends do not pull backthrough the guides, because the open ings in said guides are too smallto permit the passage of the coupling members, and thus the ends arealways conveniently at hand for recoupling. Said coupling means mayconsist of the common device used on lockets and the like and comprisinga spring member e, adapted to enter a cylindrical member e and having astop projection en'- gaging an interior flange, as shown, or any othersuitable means for detachably joining If desired, the coupling membersmay be arranged to pull apart under a strain a little less than isrequired to break the wire, so that if the window should be raisedwithout uncoupling the members the wire will not be broken.

The alarm-box f comprises a casing f, into which extend the terminals 9g of circuit wires g 9, shown in connection with a battery 7L and hellit of any suitable construction. Said terminals are separated by aconsiderable space in the box f, so as to break the current, the endspreferably lying approximately parallel, as shown. Between saidterminals g g of the circuit-wires is arranged a circuit-closer carrieri, pivoted upon a shaft j, extending across the box at right angles tothe direction of the terminals. Said carrier comprises a frame 7;,pivoted upon the shaft j at two points, as at Z Z, and having on eachside of the shaft arms k, which project outwardly and upwardly from theshaft, as shown in Fig. 3. To the ends of each set of arms, which arepreferably bent at right angles toward each other, is secured a U-shapedcircuit-closer m, having downwardly-extending parallel arms m, adaptedto lie between and adjacent to the terminals 9 g. At their upper partssaid arms m are somewhat farther apart than the terminals; but theirlower ends lie nearer together than said terminals and will passtherebetween. As the carrier lies in its normally horizontal position ontheshaft j, the arms m will not touch the terminals on either side, andthe circuit will be interrupted or broken. Then the carrier is tipped oroscillated in either direction, however, the arms of the circuitcloseron that side are forced downward between the terminals 9 g until theirincreasing width causes them to engage at their outer sides the innersides of said terminals. The arms m and wires g g are bared or providedwith suitable contact-surfaces where they engage each other, and thus acontinuous circuit may be completed through the circuit-closer m. At thesame time the circuit is closed the movement of the arms is arrested andthe circuit-closer carrier 1 is brought to a standstill, whereby thealarm will continue to sound until the carrier is again returned to itsnormal central position. The central portion of the U-shapedcircuitcloser is laid against the inwardly-bent ends of the arms 7; ofthe frame It, being suitably insulated against electrical contacttherewith and fastened by wrapping 'I'L, soldering, or other appropriatemeans.

To eifect oscillatory movement of the circuit-closer carrier 2', I havearranged upon the shaft, inside of the frame 1', independent pulleys 00, separated by washers p and each having a stud or arm 0 projectingradially outward from its periphery. The wires 0 from the window are ledinto the box by means of suitable openings (1 and guides CV, and each ispassed over a pulley 0, being fastened to the base of the stud 0'.Beyond the pulley the wire passes downward through the bottom of thebox, and to the end is attached a suitable weight or weights 0'. Thestud or arm 0 projects from the upper part of the pulley 0 out betweenthe circuit-closers m m, being sutliciently long to engage saidcircuit-closers when the pulley is oscillated.

The weight 7' normally holds the wire 0 taut,

its length being adapted to cause the stud or arm 0 to stand midwaybetween the two circuit-closers mm. In this position the circuit-closercarriert' lies in its central position without closing the circuit oneither side. If, however, any one of the wires 0 is pressed or pulled atright angles to its length, the pulley 0 is oscillated against the forceof the weight r and the stud 0 brought in contact with thecircuit-closer m to force it downward and bring its arms into contactwith the terminals g g, completing the circuit. On the other hand, if awire be broken or cut, the weight will be released and allowed to fall,bringing the stud 0' against the opposite circuit-closer m and forcingit between the wires 9 g to complete the circuit. The circuitcloser willnormally retain its closing position and the bell or other alarmcontinue to sound until the circuit-closer is restored to its normalcentral position by hand upon the arrival of some person.

To prevent the weights from giving an alarm when the portion of a wire011 the sash is disconnected from the part on the windowframe, I haveprovided a stay-rod s to be insert-ed in bearings in the sides of thebox and hold the studs 0 against being forced by the weights intoengagement with the circuitcloser, as will be understood. This rod iswithdrawn when it is desired that the apparatus shall be in completeworking order.

It will be understood that any number of wires 0 may extend to the box fand that the pulleys in the box are suitably varied in number orconstruction to receive all said wires. I desire also to call attentionto the fact that my device can be used in connection with anyelectrically-controlled door-protector or general system ofburglar-alarm, the wires 5 being as well adapted to form a part of anycircuit as to be connected to the battery 7t and bell h, as shown.

Having thus described the invention,what I claim as new is-- 1. In aburglar-alarm, the combination with a window-frame and a sash movable insaid frame, of wires fastened to one side of said sash and extendingacross the panes, guides upon said sash and window-frame through whichthe wires run, coupling means arranged in said wire between the guideson the frame and those on the sash, and an alarm in connection with saidwires and adapted to be operated by movement thereof or pressure againstthe wires, substantially as set forth.

2. In aburglar-alarm for windows, the com bination with a battery, alarmand open circuit, of means for closing said circuit, wires stretchedacross the window-panes (1 made fast at one end to the sash and at t eother end connecting with the circuit closing means to operate the same,guides on the sash and window-frame through which said wires run andcoupling means arranged in each wire between the adjacent guides at theedges of the sash and window-frame, said coupling ICC means beingadapted to prevent withdrawal through the'guides of the ends of the wirewhen uncoupled, substantially as set forth.

3. In a burglar-alarm,the combination with an open circuit, of a pivotedpulley having an arm projecting radially from the periphery, a wirepassing over said pulley and made fast to the arm and extending beyondsaid arm, a weight attached to the end of said wire and a circuit-closeroperated by said arm, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a burglar-alarm for windows, the combination with an opencircuit, of guides upon the window-sash, wires stretched across thepanes of said window in said guides and fastened at one end, and leadingto an alarmboX, pulleys pivoted in said alarm-box over which the wirespass, and weights attached to the free ends of said wires, armsprojecting from the peripheries of said pulleys to which arms the Wiresare attached, and a circuit-closer adapted to be operated by said arms,substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the wires 0, and terminals 9, of an alarm-boxinto which said' terminals extend, pulleys pivoted therein over whichsaid wires run, a circuit-closer carrier pivoted on the pulley-shaft andadapted to be operated by the oscillation of the pulleys, and

circuit-closers carried by said carrier and adapted to engage theterminals, substantially as set forth.

6. In a burglaralarm system, the combination of pulleys independentlypivoted upon a shaft and having radial arms, wires extend ing over saidpulleys and having weights at their ends, a circuit-closer carrierpivoted upon the same shaft with said pulleys, a circuit-closer carriedby said carrier, and circuit terminals adapted to be closed by saidcircuit-closer, substantially as set forth.

'7. In a burglar-alarm, the combination of pulleys havingradially-projecting arms, a circuit-closer carrier pivoted on the sameshaft and having side frames adapted to be engaged by said arms as thepulleys oscillate, wires 0, oscillating said pulleys, terminals g, g,and

circuit-closers carried by said frames and adapted to be forced betweensaid terminals to close the circuit, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this7th day of November, 1898.

JOHN L. CUMMINGS.

\Vitnesses:

D. A. BURNHAM, HARRY B. TAYLOR.

